Biography of Hon. David GreenslitConnecticut Biographies

HON. DAVID GREENSLIT, HAMPTON.

David Greenslit was born at Hampton, June 2, 1817. After graduating from the public schools of his native town,
he spent a year or two in teaching and in mercantile business in the city of Norwich, after which he paid his attention
exclusively to fanning until 1840, since which date his time has been occupied almost continuously in official
duties. May 26, 1840, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Searls, daughter of John Searls of Brooklyn,
settling in Hampton, where he has since principally resided. He held the offices of sheriff and deputy sheriff
for Windham county for sixteen years. In 1866 he was elected state senator, serving as chairman of the State Prison
committee. During his term in the senate he lost his only rhild, a beautiful young lady of twenty two years, by
which sad blow he was almost completely prostrated. In 1878 he represented Hampton in the lower house, where he
was again appointed chairman of the State Prison committee. Mr. Greenslit has held the office of president of the
Windham County Mutual Fire Insurance Company for about twelve years, and is the adjuster of all the company's losses.
He is a director in the Windham County National Bank, also in the Dime Savings Bank of Willimantic. He has held
various town offices, having been acting school visitor, agent of the town deposit fund; and first selectman, for
terms varying from ten to forty years. He was in the provost marshal's office in Norwich during two years of the
war of the rebellion, and acted for the government as general recruiting officer for Windham county. During the
last thirty years he has been extensively engaged in the settlement of estates, mangy of which have involved large
responsibilities and required the exercise of soundest judgment. Mr. Greeuslit has given much attention to the
law, not professionally, but in order to prepare himself for the requirements of his duties and to enable him to
act promptly and intelligently on the many occasions when legal counsel might not be at ready command. His advice
in business is thus often sought and highly valued. Politically Mr. Greenslit is an ardent republican, and has
been more or less active in state and local politics ever since the formation of that party. He served on the state
central committee for a long succession of years. Whatever the welfare of his town or the state has called for,
politically, socially, educationally, or morally, he has heartily and earnestly undertaken; and very rarely has
he enlisted in an undertaking which was not carried to a triumphant success. Mr. Greenslit's life has been one
of great activity and usefulness, and his circle of intimate acquaintances and friends extends to all borders of
the state.